Trains and Rail-Trails

We’d thought about another overnighter for this weekend, but that plan will be kept in the ‘bank’. This excursion was for some ‘bush-time’ and to use the better-weather-day.

Getting to the start – the instructions were (finally) “meet at the station at 8am – bring lunch”. Rachel and Tim discuss how our organisational/coordination skills could be improved

In peak hours during the week bicycles aren’t allowed on the Transperth trains – into the city in the morning (7-9am) and out again in the evening (4.30-6.30pm). Read more here. On the weekend (especially at 8am) there’s plenty of space for us to fill the ‘bicycle’ spot with many and put the Chariot trailer in too. It takes just under an hour from Fremantle to Midland via a change in Perth.

Our trail for the day – the Heritage Rail Trail – a 41km circuit of easy, flat (by definition) trailer friendly riding (with frequent cafés)Fast as you like, and smooth going. 3-abreast chattingBryn’s behind me – getting some more trailer pulling practice – this time on the fat-bikeSometimes he sleeps – sometimes he watches the world go by. Always cosy and rarely upsetLooks complicated – but isn’t. The Chariot trailer-hitch is a simple ball-end held into the QR-mounted socket by a vertical pin that’s nice and secure for riding, but easy to undo in a hurry to get the bike-trailer on and off trains etc.

A couple of washers space the hitch ‘socket’ out to allow it to clear the Rohloff ‘gear-box’Tim’s got a new (old) bike, so enthusiasm takes him ahead of us laziesbefore letting us catch upNear the end of the loop we get to the tunnel – just short enough that you can see the other end. Long enough and dark enough that there’s some spice to riding it. There’s even a bolt-hole halfway along that provides kids with no end of ambush possibilities…Emergence

All in all – a morning or afternoon if ridden continuously; or most of a day if enough cafés are visited and you want to chat more. Riding surface is mostly smooth, though stone chippings in places mean a bit less speed is rewarded. Start/Finish is not far from the Midland Transperth train station allowing cars to be left behind altogether.